Moving Baled Hay From Areas Under Quarantine 

for Imported Fire Ant

Questions and Answers

Imported fire ants can harm agriculture and injure animals and 

people with their painful stings and venom. These invasive pests 

can move to new, non-infested areas by hitchhiking on agricultural 

commodities, including baled hay. To prevent that from 

happening, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established 

quarantine areas where we know imported fire ant colonies exist.

While some hay produced in these areas is prohibited from moving 

outside of the quarantine zone, most hay can move without 

restriction. This factsheet offers some simple steps that hay 

growers and suppliers inside an imported fire ant quarantine area 

can take to ensure their product moves quickly and easily to where 

it’s needed by farmers and livestock.

What is the quarantine zone for imported fire ant?

Most of the southeastern United States is currently under 

quarantine. In addition, most of Texas, southern Oklahoma, all of 

Dona Ana County in New Mexico, all of Orange County and parts of 

Los Angeles and Riverside counties in California, and all of Puerto 

Rico are under quarantine. To determine whether you are in a 

quarantine area, visit USDA’s imported fire ant Web site at www.

aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ifa and click the “Imported Fire Ant 

Quarantine Interactive Map” link.

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What kind of hay is regulated in these areas for 

imported fire ant?

In quarantine areas, USDA regulates only baled hay and baled 

straw that are stored in direct contact with the ground because 

they pose a risk for harboring imported fire ants.

This hay may move anywhere within the quarantine area.

Under what conditions can baled hay leave the 

quarantine area WITHOUT restrictions?

Baled hay that meets any of the requirements below is not 

regulated and has no movement restrictions:

 For baled hay that is stacked, all bales except the bottom layer 

that is in direct contact with the ground.

 Hay that is cut, baled, loaded, and shipped without storage.

 Baled hay that is stored on an impervious surface such as hard 

pan (highly compressed soil), asphalt, concrete, etc.

 Baled hay that is stored elevated above the soil on pallets or 

tires or stored on landscaping cloth placed over the soil.

Under what conditions can baled hay leave the 

quarantine area WITH restrictions?

Hay or straw from inside the quarantine area that is stored in 

direct contact with the ground may move outside the quarantine 

area provided it has been inspected, found free of imported fire 

ants, and travels with a certificate or permit issued by the State 
department of agriculture or local USDA office. You can find 

contact information for State departments of agriculture on the 

National Plant Board’s Web site at www.nationalplantboard.

org/members. For local USDA offices, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/

planthealth/sphd.

What hay cannot leave the quarantine area?

Any hay that contains soil OR does not pass inspection may not 

leave the quarantine area.

What are some best management practices for baled 

hay storage that reduce the chance of fire ants infesting 

the hay?

The best management approach is to reduce or eliminate fire 

ants on the property annually. Your local Extension specialist 

can provide guidance on how to accomplish this. To find contact 

information for your local Extension office, visit www.nifa.usda.

gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-websitedirectory. In addition, the following storage practices can help 

reduce the risk of moving infested hay and straw:

 Applying fire ant bait (insecticide) around the outside of hay 

storage areas.

 Storing hay on an impervious surface such as asphalt, 

concrete, or hard pan.

 Elevating hay in the field onto a pallet or tire or placing it on 

landscaping cloth so it is not in direct contact with the ground.

 If available, requesting an inspection by a State agriculture 

inspector to certify that the hay is free of fire ants.

Before the hay leaves the quarantine area, the shipper should 

place food that typically attracts ants (such as a cooked hot dog, 

crumbled cookies, or peanut butter) on a card close to the loaded 

bales on the trailer and then check for ants after an hour or so.

What should buyers do when purchasing hay produced 

within a quarantine area?

When placing the order, determine if the supplier is within the 

quarantine area for the imported fire ant. To do so, visit USDA’s 

imported fire ant Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/

ifa and click the “Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Interactive Map” 

link. Also, ask the supplier to ensure the hay is free of fire ants, 

and visually inspect the hay bales when they are delivered to you. 

If possible, request that the hay be certified for movement by the 

State from which it is shipped.

If you find any fire ants, contact your State department of 

agriculture or local Extension office. You can find contact 

information for State departments of agriculture on the National 

Plant Board’s Web site at www.nationalplantboard.org/members. 

For local Extension offices, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/land-grantcolleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory.

What threat does the imported fire ant pose to 

agriculture?

These ants will feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop 

plants, especially corn, soybean, okra, and citrus. They can also 

girdle young trees. Large nests located in fields interfere with and 

damage equipment during cultivation and harvesting. Imported 

fire ants respond rapidly and aggressively to disturbances, and 

ant attacks inhibit field-worker activities. A single fire ant can sting 

its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are especially 

susceptible to the venom of these stings.

For more information on imported fire ants and APHIS’ 

regulations, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ifa.